Explain the significance of the following Revolutionary Events

Lexington and Concord – “first shots of the American Revolution”
First shots of the Revolution. British were marching to Lexington to arrest John Hancock and John Adams and to seize weapons from Concord. Shots were fired on April 19, 1775. Took place near Boston. Known as the “Shot heard around the world.” / Trenton – “sneak attack”
Washington needs a victory. He decides to attack Hessians at Trenton, New Jersey, the day after Christmas in 1776. Got much needed supplies, confidence builder, and troops re-enlisted after an easy “sneak attack” victory.
Saratoga – “the TURNING POINT”
October 1777 – British troops are defeated by Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold after two other British generals did not rendezvous near the Hudson River (near Saratoga, New York). France openly offers Americans support after this victory marking the “turning point” of the war. / Valley Forge – “the darkest hour”
Washington’s army spends the winter of 1777-78 at a winter campsite called Valley Forge. Over a ¼ of his troops die because of disease, starvation, and frostbite. Washington reads The Crisis to his men. “These are the times that try a men’s soul.” Spirits lift as spring approaches as Lafayette and Von Steubon are brought in to help train the Continentals.
War at Sea – “A Drive to Continue”
In the North Sea, John Paul Jones, an American sailor, captured the British warship, The Serapis in 1779. His famous quote, “I have yet begun to fight” showed honor and courage to continue the efforts of navy fighting for the American force. / Yorktown – “Britain surrenders”
Washington gets information from James Armistead (slave spy) and then traps Lord Cornwallis in Virginia at the port city of Yorktown. Lord Cornwallis can’t retreat because the French navy is along the coast. The British surrender after this battle on October 19, 1781

The New Government of the United States

Articles of Confederation / The Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States, on November 15, 1777. However, ratification of the Articles of Confederation by all thirteen states did not occur until March 1, 1781. The AOC gave the majority of power to the State governments; and very little to the Federal . John Hanson was elected the first president in 1781 under the AOC.

People Word Bank:

Defeated Cornwallis / American Soldier, traitor
Commander-in-Chief of the Continentals / British commander who surrendered at Yorktown
Spanish commander / Blocked the British from the port of New Orleans
Runaway slave / Double spy
French, helped corner Cornwallis / Naval hero, Father of the Navy
Sunk The Serapis / Went to France to get financial support
“I have yet begun to fight” / Jewish immigrant
African American, fights at Saratoga / “these are the times that try men’s soul”
Helped finance the Continental Army / Wrote her husband about life at home during the war
Ambassador to France during the war / Used his own money to buy uniforms for the American soldiers

Continental Congress – the government of the colonies

First Continental Congress / Formed militias and petitioned for peace with the King through the Olive Branch Petition
Second Continental Congress / After no reply from the King regarding the Olive Branch Petition, the Congress realized the only answer was now war. Washington was chosen Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, a group was formed to write the Declaration of Independence, and then after the formation of the Articles of Confederation which was the United States’ first form of democratic government.

Treaty of Paris

Terms of the Treaty / 1. 10,000 British died
2. Debt of the U.S. - $27 million
3. 25,700 Americans died
4. Soldiers were paid in land because there was no tax revenue to pay them (Articles of Confederation)
5. The U.S. had a weak federal government under the Articles of Confederation and was vulnerable to a takeover by England because of a lack of being recognized as a sovereign country